Ratchet-wrench.



E. FRANKE.

RATCHET WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 3. 1915.

' Patented Dec. '7, 1915.

FF1 @E.

EMIL FRANKIE, 0F LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK.

RATCHET-VVRENGH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March s, 1915. Serial No. 11,76 t.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL FRANKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Long Island City, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ratchet-Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ratchet wrenches and consists in the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a wrench of the character stated which is of simple and durable structure and the parts of which may be easily and quickly manipulated to permit the head of the wrench to turn in either of two directions with relation to the shank or handle. Also the parts may be manipulated so that the head is held in a fixed position with relation to the shank or handle or may freely rotate with relation to the same.

With theseand other objects in view the wrench comprises a shank or handle having a head attached thereto the said head being provided with a central opening. A jaw supporting member is turnably mounted in the opening of the head and jaws are slidably mounted upon the said member. A right and left hand threaded screw engages the said jaws and by turning the same serves as means for moving the jaws simultaneously toward or away from each other whereby the space between the jaws may be increased or diminished and the jaws positioned to receive nuts of different sizes between the same. The said jaw supporting member is provided with peripheral teeth and pawl members are slidably mounted in the shanks of the wrench and may engage the said teeth. The said pawl members are spring pressed the tension of the springs being such as to normally hold the pawl members toward the teeth of the jaw supporting member. Catch members are pivotally mounted upon the pawl members and may be turned to engage shoulders provided upon the wrench structure whereby the said pawl members are held out of engagement and away from the path of movement of the teeth upon the jaw supporting member.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a side elevation looking at one side of the head portion of the wrench. Fig.2 is a similar view looking at the opposite side of the head portion of the wrench. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the head portion of the wrench with parts removed. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same cut on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a ring member used upon the wrench shown on a reduced scale. Fig. 6 is a perspectlve view of one of the catch members used in the wrench showing the same separated from each other.

The wrench comprises a shank or handle portlon 1 having an enlargement 2 and provided at the end of the enlargement with an annular opening center head 3. A jaw holder 4 1s rotatably mounted in the head 3 and is held therein by means of a plate 5 which is secured in any suitable manner to the side of the head 3 and the enlargement 2. The plate 5 is provided with a circular openmg which registers with the opening in the head 3. The jaw holder 4 is provided with a set of annular teeth 6. Jaws 7 are slidably mounted in the jaw holder 4: and a screw 8 is provided with right and left hand threads which engage in the jaws 7 in the usual manner. The inner faces of the jaws 7 are serrated as shown in Fig. 1 to enable the aws to grip a pipe or nut. A knurled disk 9 is mounted upon the intermediate portion of the screw 8 and may be used as means for turning the said screw. It is apparent that when the said screw 8 is turned the jaws 7 will be moved simultaneously toward or away from each other according to the direction in which the screw is turned. The jaws 7 are adapted to receive between them nuts of different sizes and inasmuch as the said jaws are adjustable with relation to each other they may be caused to fit snugly against the sides of the nut. A ring 10 is attached to the sides of the jaw holder 4 and bridges the space in the said holder and serves as means for bracing the opposite side portions of the jaw holder. Channels 11 are provided in the enlargement 2 of the shank and pawls 12 are slidably mounted in the said channels. Springs 13 interposed between the ends of the pawls 12 and the bottomsof the channels 11 are under tension with a tendency to hold the opposite ends of the pawls toward the teeth 6 upon the jaw holder 4.

The enlargement 2 is provided at its side with slots 14 the inner ends of which communicate with the channels 11. Catch members 15 are pivotally. mounted upon the Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

pawl and pawls 12 and lugs 16 are mounted upon the plate 5 and are located in the paths of movement of the catch members 15 and serve to limit the pivotal movement of the said catch members upon the pawls. The plate is further provided with shoulders 17 which extend into the end portions of the channels 11 and the ends of the catch members at times are adapted to engage the said shoulders 17 and force the pawl members back against the tension of the springs 13.' The pawl member 12 at the right hand side of Fig. 3 is shown in retracted position I and the position of the catch member- 15 mounted thereon is such that the end of the said catch member bears against the shoulder 17 which would be in the channel 11 when the plate 5 is applied to the said figure. Also at this time the side portion of the said catch member is in engagement with that lug 16 which is located in the path of movement of the said catch member. The plate 5 is provided at its opposite side edges with notches 18 in which a finger-nail may be inserted to engage lugs 19 provided upon the catch members 15 and swing the same.

It is apparent that when the catch member 15 is swung to the position shown at the left hand side of Fig. 3 of the drawing the spring 13 forces the pawl 12 into the path of movement of the teeth 6 of the jaw holder 4. Consequently the said jaw holder may rotate in the head 3 in one direction but is restrained against rotation in the head in an opposite direction. When the said pawl is removed from the path of movement of the teeth 6 and the other pawl is permitted to enter the path of movement of the said teeth the said jaw holder may rotate in a direction opposite to that just above indicated but is held against rotation in a reversed direction. When both pawls are permitted to enter the path of movement of the teeth 6 the jaw holder 4 is held in a fixed position with relation to the shank or handle of the wrench. When both pawls are withdrawn from the path of movement of the teeth 6 the said jaw holder is free to rotate in any direction with relation to the shank or handle.

The ring 10 stands out beyond the face of the plate 5 and may be used as a hand grip for turning the nut or pipe to which the jaws are applied independently of the handle 1. It is of course understood that when the wrench is thus manipulated both of the pawls are moved out of engagement with the teeth 6 consequently the jaw holder 4 is free to rotate in the head 3 and the said nut or pipe may be easily and quickly turned. Also the said ring 10 may be used by an operator for holding the wrench in position upon its work when the nut or pipe is being turned by using the handle 1.

Having described the invention What is claimed is 1. A wrench comprising a shank having a head, a jaw holder turnably mounted in the head and provided with peripheral teeth, a pawl slidably mounted in the shank and having an end portion adapted to enter the path of movement of the teeth of the jaw holder, spring means for holding the pawl toward the teeth of the jaw holder, a catch member pivotally mounted upon the pawl, there being a shoulder located in the path of movement of the catch member and which when engaged by the catch member holds the pawl in a retracted position with relation to the teeth of the jaw holder.

2. A wrench comprising a shank having a head, a jaw holder turnably mounted in the head and provided with peripheral teeth, a spring pressed pawl slidably mounted in the shank and adapted at times to enter the path of movement of the teeth, a catch member pivotally mounted upon the pawl, a lug located in the path of movement of the catch member to limit its turning movement in one direction, there being a shoulder also located in the path of movement of the catch member and which when engaged by the catch member holds the pawl in a re-' tracted position with relation to the teeth of the jaw holder.

3. A wrench comprising a shank having a head, a jaw holder turnably mounted in the head, jaws carried by the jaw holder, a pawl movably mounted in the shank and adapted to engage the jaw holder, a catch member pivotally mounted upon the pawl, a plate attached to the head and holding the jaw holder in position, said plate having a lug adapted to be engaged by the catch member for holding the pawl at an adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EMIL FRANKE. Witnesses:

M. E. LAUGHLIN, GEO. A. BYRNE. 

